My casual pottering away with Tetris Effect: Connected seems to be proving more that I'm not as casual as most (other Tetris) players. "Lies, dámned lies and statistics". It's the % of the achievements that's interesting.
Normal mode has seen a fair amount of that progress. I'm currently on the second level of the last section before the end.
Last weeks community challenge was interesting. Not that I did a lot to help in the global scheme of things(with 100 or so points).
But it was enough to get the XP needed to reach level 30 so I'm happy about that.
The last few days has seen some new games purchased, as well as a lot of the 'winter' events in games come to a conclusion.
New games:
Democracy 4, Rebel Galaxy Outlaw and Beat Saber; though I've barely scratched the surface of them so far.
As well as DLC for Two Point Hospital. The Culture Shock DLC. Which should be interesting.
For me VR does nothing to boost my Tetris Effect experience. It comes off as an impractical gimmick; Pity as it was the last thing I was hanging on to see in the game....
Since last time (doesn't seem like a month ago) I've continued to plug away at the game. Enjoyment and frustrations abound. The higher the difficulty the worse I do; No surprise I suppose. Cleared beginner, just over half way through on normal and feel on my face on Hard.... On the second level. Casual gamer is casual and with really fast block speed it quickly looses the fun of the challenge.
With progress comes the waning of the 'journey'; Which I suppose can be considered the 'main campaign' of the game. Some great levels with themes and music worthy of a revisit for that alone(like this, this and this). Even the last level(a hard challenge but a fair one, not hard for the sake of it(imho)). The levels and the transition in gameplay from one to the next is a 'journey', a game worth the time.
With that 'journey' fading I've been spending more and more time in the 'Effects Mode'. Challenges which alter the main levels by switching up the rules, speed and overall difficulty based on 'mood' categories. While the moods are based on “Relax,”, “Focus”, “Classic” and “Adventurous”; They do ramp up the challenge the further down the list you go.
Game-pass/Ultimate has been worthwhile. The number of games I've been able to play through it has both saved me money and time. I've bought one or two games to 'keep' and not bought games I'd have paid for if not for it. which is all a plus on top of the free monthly Games with Gold.
One game I now have access to is Tetris Effect Connected. I'd seen the base game when it cam out with promotions of the PlayStation VR and more recently with this video two years ago.
While I like the look/style of it, I never thought about getting the game. Xbox guy avoids PlayStation, twas no wonder. Other than knowing of it's existence as a PS game I never thought much about it since.
Till now; I have free access to play it as much as I want....... And I am.
A lot of the levels are fun to replay just to see the background/animations and music. Really great game and a massive step up from previous iterations never mind an original gameboy or Dos version... Yea it may have been a while since I last played a Tetris game 'seriously'.
Even on Normal difficulty a casual gamer like me does tend to get outpaced by a levels later speed boost increase. That speed increase, theme changes and the visual 'distractions' along with the music and tempo's are all things a player has to contend with to progress. Some good, some cause that distraction more than others, some are a combination of sensory overload. Mistakes have and are being made....Still fun is fun.
